Diving mask



Patented May 6, 1947 UNirED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful mprovements in masks used bypersons diving and especially those who engage in the sport ofunderwater spearing of fish.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide anunderwater mask which will snugly engage the face of the diver andprevent water from reaching the eyes.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mask which canbe readily applied and which because of its resilient construction willsnugly fit the contours of various shaped faces.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a divingmask which can be readily disassembled for the purpose of repair orreplacement of parts.

Various other important objects and advantages of the invention shallbecome apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the mask.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view taken on theline llof Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken online 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing the pattern of the mask wall.

Referring t the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral denotes a continuous mask wall constructed ofresilient material such as rubber.

Figure 6 shows a wall blank and it will be noted that this blank has astraight edge portion 6 and a curved edge portion, this portion havingtwo main outstanding protuberances 'I, l which are intended to engagethe temple portions of a per' sons face. The indented portion 8 engagesthe nose of the wearer.

At the inner side of the wall 5 and elongated from end to end, groove 9is formed to receive an ovate transparent pane Ill. The end portions ofthe blank 5 are buied, as' at II, and these end portions are bridged bya strip I2 along both the inner and outer sides thereof, this strip I2being preferably vulcanized in place with the opposed ends of the wall5.

At the outside of the thus formed wall is a band I3 of metal which issplit and has apertured outstanding ears I4 at its end portions throughwhich a bolt I5 is disposed, this bolt being equipped with a nut I6.Obviously, by tightening the nut I6 firmly against the adjacent ear I4,

the band I3 will have been contracted snugly against the forward edgeportion of the wall 5, clamping this portion of the wall snugly againstthe perimeter of the pane I0.

Before the band is tightened in place, the ends of straps Il, I8 areinserted between the band I3 and the wall 5, so that when the band iscontracted to snugly clamp the wall against the edge portion of the paneI0, the straps I'I, I8 will also be rmly clamped in place. The strapsI'I, I8 are provided with a suitable connector I9 whereby the straps maybe properly adjusted against the head of the diver.

At the top of the mask is a metal strip 2i! which underlies the spacebetween the ears I4 of the clamp band I3. This is to prevent bulging ofthe mask at this point.

An advantage is to provide ear covering extensions 2 I, each of whichhas an ear plug 22 adapted to be inserted into the ears of the wearer inorder to exclude water when the mask is being used under water. As canbe seen in Figure 1, the straps I'I, IB cross the ear coveringextensions 2I and over the plugs 22 to hold the latter firmly in place.

It can now be seen, that with the wall 5 of some suitable flexiblematerial, preferably rubber and the straps l?, i8 snugly engaging thehead of the wearer, the wall 5 will be in such firm engagement with theface of the wearer as to preclude the possibility of any water enteringwithin the wall 5, thus affording the diver clear vision.

It will also be noted, that the parts of this mask are readilydemountable for the purpose of repair or replacement of parts. The boltI5 need only be removed and the entire structure will come apart.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeandinaterials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A mask comprising a flexible waterproof wall structure having anirregular rear edge portion adapted to conform with the shape of a humanface at the eye area thereof, the forward portion of said wall having agroove adjacent its forward edge said wall being provided with atransparentpane fitted in said groove, means for securing the pane inposition in said groove, said means for securing the pane in positionconsisting of a band ciroumscribing the forward portion of the wall andbeing contractible to compress the forward portion of the wall snuglyagainst the perimeter of the pane and the ends thereof joining oneanother at a point removed from the sides of the wall structure, andhead straps provided with connecting means, said head straps having theforward ends thereof extended in from the front of the mask andinterposed and clamped between the band and the wall, the straps beingbent back from the front of the mask for connection with one anotherbehind the ears of a wearer.

2. A mask comprising a flexible waterproof wall structure having anirregular edge portion to the rear thereof adapted to conform with theshape of a human face at the eye area thereof, the peripheral forwardportion of said wall structure having a groove on the inside thereofadjacent its forward edge, means for holding the wall structure againstthe face of the wearer, said wall being provided with a transparent paneat the front thereof received about its edge in said groove, said wallbeing provided with ear covering extensions, said means for holding thewall in place being disposed over the ear coverings, clamping means forthe peripheral forward portion of said wall structure and the forwardportion of said holding means, said clamping means comprising a bandremovably clamped in fixed position about said pane with its endsjoining one another at the top of the mask, a bridging strip forsupporting the wall structure extending from the front edge of the wallto the rear thereof and lying beneath the joined ends of the clampedband.

MARCUS J. ZBAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ie ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,362,917 Malcom Nov. 14, 19442,333,336 Powell Nov. 2, 1943 1,741,327 Merlino n Dec. 31, 1929 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Dato 402,540 French Oct. 11, 1909

